Automatic train-stop.



E. M. JONES.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1913. LIQOO, Patented Feb.23,1915.

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@ayez E. M. JONES. AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1913.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

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HE NORRIS PETERS co., PHOTOYL/THU wAHlNGrGN, D4 C.

E. M. JONESg AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP. APPLIUATION FILED'SLPT. 4, 191s.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

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ELMER IM. JoNEs, or ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AssIGNonTo IoNns SIGNAL SYSTEM COMPANY, or ATLANTA, GEORGIA, A CORPORATION or GEORGIA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-STOP.

niaaaos.

Application filed September 4, 1913.

To all rohom t may concern Be 1t known that I, ELMER M. JONES, a

vcitizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of `Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in AAutomatic Train- Stops, of which the'following is a full, clear, and exact description,reference'being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an automatic train stopping system where there yare devices located at intervals/ along the tnackway and adapted to coact with means on a locomotive or vehicle toi-give a signal or apply a brake when occasion requires it. The present invention is concerned withl the track devices of such system, and `particularly with track devices which are adaptedy to invariably initiate the application of a danger signal or brake, and thereafter counteract such initiation before it becomes effective if conditions ahead are Clear, otherwise allowingthe initiation to -automatically become effective. The controlling means above mentioned is claimed broadly in my prior application No. 628,832, filed May 22, 1911. The present application is concerned with means for improving the moving mechanism shown in that application; with means enabling the initiating ramp to be depressed in case of some abnormal projection kfrom a train or vehicle, and with means whereby the depression of such initiating ramp or the removal of any portion thereof, will cause a signal in therear to show danger. rFliese and other features entering into the present invention are hereinafter'more fully,

explained and are summarized inthe claims.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is ausectional side elevation of my ground device in its normal or danger position; Fig. 2 is a simi'- lar view of such mechanism in clear position, that is the position into which it automatically comes under the influence of .a motor and magnet when the track conditions aheadare clear; Fig. y3 is a plan of the automatic stopping device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and Fig. l is an end view thereof; Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectionithrough the stationary ramp and its supporting frame, as

Spec'icaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

seriaiNo. 788,106.

indicated by the lineson 1Fig.2; Fig. 6 is anvenlarged horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Refer-ring to Figs. 1 to 1, 1 indicates the ties Vand -2 a rail of a trackway, 3 designates certain ties which `project farther than others,the intermediate ties 1 being shortened yfrom the usual standard. The ties 3 are surmounted byplatesill. yBolted to these plates il and ties 3is a bed rplate 5, parallel with Athe rail, for stationaryand movable ramps to'be described, and cross bars 6 and 7 for supporting a boX 8 carrying the motor and mechanism for raising the movable ramp.

The normally stationary ramp consists yof a pair of bars 10 and 11, hinged together by a knuckle joint at 12 and mounted at their ends between pairs of ears 13 and 14 rising from the bed plate 5. Each pair of ears carries a pin as 16 and 17, which occupy slots in the respective bars. The bars 10 and 11 are held in their normal pe'akedvpositi'on by a pair of stiff compression springs 20, which are mounted in housings 21 secured to the underside of the bed plate 5, and by members pressed upwardly by these springs against the respective bars. These members consist of plungers 23 having collars 24 resting on the springs and reduced portions eX- tending into the springs, andheads projecting freely through the bed plate and bifurcated to extend onto opposite sides of the bars 10 and 11. Each head is preferably providedwith a roller 25 which bears against theunder edge of the bar. By supporting the ramp bars inthe manner described, l make them normally stationary, while they are depressibleif lnecessary to allow the passage of some abnormal projection on a vehicle. An instance of such projection, l may cite the wings of a snow plow or some broken pa-rt of a train. Means hereinafter described are provided for causing a danger indication if the normally stationary bars should be depressed or should become elevated above their normal position, such means being operated by'one of the plungers described.

'The movable ramp ,comprises a pair of bars 30 and 31, connected by a knuckle joint 32. The bar 30 is a rock arm on the end of a rock shaft 33. This shaft is journaled in a bearing 34 on the bed plate 5 and a bearing 36 on the boX 8. The shaft is shown as covered by a protecting sleeve 37. The ramp bar 31 has a sliding connection at its free end, with an ear 38 rising from the bed plate 5. The guide for this free end is shown as consisting of two pins 39 which overhang the bar.

As explained in my prior application referred to, the stationary or danger ramp 10 and 11, the clearing or movable ramp 30, 31 are designed to coact with two members on the vehicle, the first of which initiates the application of adanger indication or brake, and the second of which `counteracts such initiation before it becomes effective. As an illustration, I may have a lever on the vehicle which rides over the stationary ramp 10, 11 and is thereby caused to open an air valve which if left alone would apply the brake and such application results if the safety ramp 30, 31 is down, but if the safety ramp is up another lever on the vehicle contacts therewith and closes the valve before its open action has become effective. A suitable motor and mechanism driven thereby, is provided under the control of an electric circuit to raise the safety ramp into counteracting position when conditions ahead are clear.v This motor will now be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

The motor and mechanism for raising the ramp bars 30 and 31 is contained in the boX 8 supported by the bars 6 and 7, and normally closed by the cover 9. The motor is designated 40. It is shown as having a pinion 41 meshing with a gear 42, on the hub of which is a pinion 43 meshing with a large gear 44. On the shaft of this gear is a sprocket pinion 45 meshing with a sprocket chain 46 loose in a groove on the periphery of a gear 49 journaled on a shaft 47 mounted in standard 48.y Journaled on the shaft 47 is a bifurcated arm or yoke 50 in which is journaled a shaft 51. Rigid on this shaft is a sprocket pinion 52 meshing with the chain 46. On one end of the shaft 51 is rigidly secured a star Wheel 54, adapted to be locked by a suitable pawl and magnet mechanism. When this star wheel is locked, the arm is thereby locked to the sprocket chain so that the rotation of the motor may raise the arm. When the star wheel is free any movement of the motor is simply idle. Suitable mechanism, indicated by the pin 57 connects the yoke arm 50 to a rock arm 58 on the end of the rock shaft 33. Accordingly, the raising of the yoke 50 raises the movable ramp to safety position.

The means for locking the star Wheel 54,

comprises an electro-magnet 60 mounted on the yoke 50; an armature therefor, carried by a bell crank 61, pivoted on the yoke arm 50; an arm 62 pivoted on the yoke arm and bearing against the upturned portion of the bell crank 61, and a latch bar or pawl 64 rigidly carried by the arm 62 and designed to coact with teeth on the star wheel 54. The motor circuit is controlled at one point by a switch comprising the terminal 65 and the pivoted knife arm 66.

The parts are in their normal position in Fig. 1. In this position a spring 67 carried by the casing engages the. arm 66 and holds the motor circuit closed at this point, so that the motor is always ready to act when its circuit is closed at some other point. An adjusting screw 70 rising from the base of the boX, engages the bell crank 61 and holds it with the armature within range of the magnet 60. The pawl 64 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1, by the supporting spring 72.

lVhen circuit conditions indicate safety, the electric circuit energizes the motor and the magnet 60, these members being connected in multiple. On such energization, the motor begins to rotate which starts to raise the arm 50 because the star wheel 54 is locked by the pawl 64. At the same time the magnet 60 picks its armature swinging the bell crank 61 and forcing the latch 64, slightly to the right. whereupon its shoulder engages a tooth of the star wheel 54 and effectively locks the wheel so that the motor continues to raise the arm 50 thereby raising the movable ramp 30, 31, putting the automatic stop in safety or clear position.

As the clearing ramp comes into active position, the pawl 64 abuts a set screw 75 carried by a cross bar supported on studs 76 rising from the base and this knocks the pawl 64 out of engagement with the wheel. .l ust preceding such action.r however, the toe 78 of the lever 66 has passed the spring latch 79 and the toe catches on the latch, and another toe 8O of the lever 66 catches on a shoulder on the under side of the pawl 64 wherefore the arm 50 is held elevated by the spring latch 79 as shown in Fig. 2. The releasing of the star wheel allows the whole weight of the arm to come on the toe 78 which swings the lever 66 on .its pivot so that the motor circuit is broken between this lever and the terminal 65.

Now the parts remain in the clear position described and shown in Fig. 2, so long as the magnet 60 remains energized, but as soon as that magnet looses its energization (by reason of danger conditions ahead, the breaking of a circuit, the running down of the battery or a short circuit at any point) the armature lever 61 drops, releasing the vpawl 64, which releases the detent lever 66 at the shoulder 80, so that the arm 50 drops by `gravity and frestores the resetting ramp to `normal position.

It should be noticed that as :soon as fthe magnet GOreleases its armature, the lever 61 drops -sufliciently to carry lthe armature out of range of stheimagnet, this being controlled by ithesetscrew .70. Accordingly it is impossible, when the magnet `once releases its armature, for it lto again Vpick it up until the arm has `dropped toits lowermost position. When it reaches `that lowermost position, the spring 67 restores the lever 66 of the motor circuit, and the spring 72 restores :the pawl 64 and the set screw 7 0 lifts the bell crank 61 suiiiciently so that the armature is in range of the magnet. This leaves the parts in condition ready to be picked up on the succeeding energization of the motor and magnet. This requirement of the parts to go to their lowermost position after a de'e'nergization, before they can againcome to resettingposition, lis of importance, as it prevents the resetting arm being caused to improperly assume safety position bysnow or dirt gradually packing under the arm. Such packing is a rare condition, but if it should occur, it would simply prevent the movable ramps going to safety position, and thus danger would be avoided.

l have referredlto the fact that one vof the plunger-s 23 which support the normally stationary ramp is connected with means to apply a danger `signal in the lrear in case 'either of the ramp bars inadvertently remains depressed from the spring supporting it giving out or from other abnormal condition, or if the ramp bar be 'broken or removed. This safety device is'best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. As appears there, a depression 90 is formed about one of the plungers 23. Against this depression bears a push rod 91 which is connected with a pivoted lever 92 forced toward the plunger by a spring 93. The spring normally keeps the push rod against the plunger. The arm 92 carries a pair of contact bridges 94 and 95, the former of which is normally in contact with two terminals 96 and 97 of lines 100 and 101 leading through a battery to the relay 102, whose energization is necessary to lreepthe system in clear condition. The other bridgeing contact 95 is normally out of engagement, but mayengage two terminals 105 and 106 of lines 107 and 108 and is thus adapted to short circuit the relay 102. Accordingly whenever the ramp bar 10 is depressed or raised or removed or broken, the plunger 233 is lowered or raised as the case may be, and in either case forces inward the push bar 91, swinging the arm 92 to carry the bridge contact 94 out of connection and the contact 95 into engagement, `with ithe :result that the battery Eline to lthe `relay is opened and the relay is short circuited. This givesa double protection against :the energization of the relay either k'byLits own battery or any foreign current, ,and insures a danger indication intherear.

`lrlaving thus'described my invention, what I `claim is:

'1. In adevice ofthe character described, the combination of a normally active ramp, a movable ramp, both ramps being adapted to act on a train controlling mechanism, a motor 'for operating the movable ramp, a latch for holding the movable ramp in. clearing position, and fa magnet kfor controlling the -movement of the movable ramp by the motor and the action of the latch.

2. The combination, with a normally activeramp, of 'a movable clearing ramp, both ramps being adapted to act on a train controlling mechanism, a motor, gearing adapted to be driven by the motor, a movable member-connected with the movable ramp, mechanism for latching the movable member to said gearing, a holding latch adapted to retain the movable member in clearing position, and a magnet for controlling the latching ofthe movable member to the gearing and for controlling the action of the holding latch.

8. The combination, in a train signal operating device, of'a motor, gearing driven thereby, a movable ramp, a bodily movable pinion connected with the ramp and meshing with 'the gearing, a shouldered wheel rigid with the pinion, a ypawl lfor locking said Wheel, a magnet and lever for actuating said pawl, and a latching device under the control ofsaid pawl.

4. The combination of a motor, gearing driven thereby, a movable ramp, a pinion connected therewith and meshing with the gearing, a shouldered wheel rigid with the pinion, a pawl for stopping said wheel, a magnet and lever for controlling the pawl, a latch, an arm, a lever coacting with the latch mounted on said arm and having a shoulder adapted tobe engaged by Said pawl.

5. The combination of a motor, gearing driven thereby, a movable arm, a pinion carried thereby and meshing with the gearing, a shouldered wheel rigid with the pinion, a pawl for stopping said wheel, a magnet and lever for controlling the pawl, an abutment adapted to automatically release the pfawl from the shouldered wheel, and latching mechanism to hold the parts when the pawl is'released.

6. The combination of a motor, gearing driven thereby, a movable arm, a magnet, means under the control of the magnet for locking the arm to the gearing, said means including a pawl, a holding latch, and a switch arm adapted to engage the holding latch and be moved thereby but thereafter held by the pawl, such movement operating to break the circuit to the motor.

7. The combination,with a movable signal device, of a movable arm connected therewith and adapted to be raised to move the signal device, a motor and connecting mechanism for raising the arm, a latch adapted to be engaged when the arm is raised to hold it, and a switch lever on the arm which said latch engages and swings into open position.

8. The combination, with a movable signal device, of a movable arm connected therewith and adapted to be raised to move the signal device, a motor and connecting mechanism for raising the arm, a latch adapted to be engaged when the arm is raised to hold it, a switch lever on the arm which said latch engages and swings into openposition, a pawl for limiting the movement of the switch lever and enabling it to act as a retaining device, and a magnet or controlling said pawl.

9. The combination, with a signal device, of a raising arm for operating the same, a motor and gearing, means for latching the raising arm to the gearing to enable the motor to raise the same, a pawl included in said latching means, an abutment which the pawl engages when the arm is raised, whereby the pawl is automatically withdrawn to free the arm, and a latching device for holding the arm including a switch lever on the arm which said pawl automatically engages whenit releases the arm.

10. The combination, with a signal device, of an arm adapted to be raised to operate the device, mechanism for raising the arm including a pawl, an abutment which automatically moves the pawl to idle position `when the arm reaches the top of its stroke, and means for moving the pawl to active position when the arm comes to the bottom of its stroke.

' 11. The combination, with a signal device,

of a raising arm connected therewith, a motor and operating mechanism, means for latching the motor to the operating mechanism to raise the arm, means for releasing lsuch latching means when the arm is fully raised, and means for restoring the latching means when the arm drops to its lowermost position.

12. rlhe combination, with a normally stationary ramp, of a movable ramp, a motor, mechanism operated thereby to move the movable ramp to clearing position, means for automatically releasing said mechanism as the movable ramp reaches clearing position, and means for preventing connection with the motor being restablished until the movable ramp has returned to initial position.

13. The combination of a normally stationary ramp, a movable ramp, means for raising the movable ramp into peaked condition, said means including a motor, gearing and a latching device, a magnet and mechanism operated thereby to latch the motor with the movable ramp, means for automatically breaking the circuit to the motor when the ramp is elevated, and means for reestablishing such circuit when the ramp drops back to its down position.

14. The combination of a normally stationary ramp, a movable ramp, means for raising the movable ramp into peaked condition, said means including a motor, gearing and a latching device, a magnet and mechanism operated thereby to latch the motor with the movable ramp, means for automatically breaking the circuit to the motor when the ramp is elevated, means for restablishing such circuit when the ramp drops back to its down position, the two means last mentioned comprising a switch lever and a latching device coacting therewith on the elevated position of the device, and an abutment coacting with the lever on the down position of the device.

15. The combination, with a movable ramp, of a normally stationary ramp comprising a pair of bars hinged together, springs normally holding the bars in peaked position, and means for causing a danger indication when either of said bars is depressed.

16. The combination, with the bars of a normally stationary but depressible ramp, of a spring and plunger pressing upwardly on one of the bars, a member moved by the movement of said plunger, and a switch operated by said member.

17. The combination, with a depressible ramp, of a spring and plunger tending to hold the same elevated, a magnet, a switch for controlling the same, and means for operating said switch when the plunger is either raised or lowered.

1S. The combination, with a depressible ramp, of a spring, a plunger carried thereby, a switch arm connected with the plunger, a magnet and battery, a pair of switches carried by the switch arm, and circuits controlled by said switches to the magnet and battery, whereby the switch in one position closes the battery through the magnet and in the other position opens the battery line and short-circuits the magnet.

19. The combination of a base, a pair of ramp bars carried thereby, a housing carried by the base, a spring in said housing, a plunger pressed upwardly by the spring against one of the ramp bars and tending to elevate it, a switch arm, an operating oonnection between the same and the plunger, and a magnet Controlled by the switch arm.

20. The combination, with a base, a pair of ramp bars hinged together in a peak and mounted at their other ends on the base, a plunger, a compression spring pressing the plunger upwardly against the under side of one of the bars, a switch arm, a push rod for w operating the same normally occupying a depression in the plunger, whereby the movement of the plunger in either direction moves the push rod to operate the switch.

n testimony whereof, l hereunto afx my signature in the presence of two witnesses. 15

ELMER M. JONES.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. BATES., JUSTIN W. MACKLIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

